Jo Confino meets | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/series/jo-confino-meets
Latest news and features from theguardian.com, the world's leading liberal voiceen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015Sun, 02 Aug 2015 21:04:48 GMT2015-08-02T21:04:48Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015The Guardianhttp://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttp://www.theguardian.com
Christiana Figueres on 'Godot paralysis' and courage – videohttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/christiana-figueres-godot-paralysis-courage
At the UN Global Compact Leadership Summit, Christiana Figueres spoke about the 'Godot paralysis, in which business wait for policy perfection and governments wait for private sector reassurance. The executive secretary of the UN framework convention on climate change went on to tell Jo Confino that each side needed to join hands and have the moral courage to walk toward green technology and investment <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/christiana-figueres-godot-paralysis-courage">Continue reading...</a>Guardian sustainable businessFri, 18 Oct 2013 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/christiana-figueres-godot-paralysis-courageguardian.co.uk/guardian.co.ukJo Confino talks to Christiana Figueres
Photograph: guardian.co.ukGuardian Staff2013-10-18T17:00:00ZMark Moody-Stuart: preventing 'unintended disasters' – videohttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/mark-moody-stuart-preventing-disasters
At the UN Global Compact Leadership Summit, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart spoke about practical, long-term solutions in conflicted regions. The chair of the Compact told Jo Confino about the "unintended disasters" of sanctions in Iran, unemployment challenges in peaceful Columbia and Sudan, and Turkey's extreme refugee problem <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/mark-moody-stuart-preventing-disasters">Continue reading...</a>UN Global Compact Leaders SummitGuardian sustainable businessThu, 17 Oct 2013 15:37:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/mark-moody-stuart-preventing-disastersguardian.co.uk/guardian.co.ukJo Confino talks to Mark Moody-Stuart
Photograph: guardian.co.ukGuardian Staff2013-10-17T15:37:00ZSander van't Noordende: 'One risk per day' – videohttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/sander-vant-noordende-one-risk-per-day
At the UN Global Compact Leadership Summit, Sander van't Noordende spoke about transformational leaders who can make sustainability a reality. The group chief executive of Accenture told Jo Confino that businesses need visionaries willing to take risk and look beyond the next quarter <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/sander-vant-noordende-one-risk-per-day">Continue reading...</a>Guardian sustainable businessWed, 16 Oct 2013 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/sander-vant-noordende-one-risk-per-dayguardian.co.uk/guardian.co.ukJo Confino talks to Sander van 't Noordende
Photograph: guardian.co.ukGuardian Staff2013-10-16T17:00:00ZGeorg Kell: public priorities affect private businesses – videohttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/georg-kell-public-priorities-private-business
At the UN Global Compact Leadership Summit, Georg Kell spoke about the ways non-financial issues affect all businesses. The executive director of the Global Compact told Jo Confino that the battle is really about solving problems, like access to water, ecological protection and women's empowerment, via co-investment and collaboration <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/georg-kell-public-priorities-private-business">Continue reading...</a>Guardian sustainable businessTue, 15 Oct 2013 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/georg-kell-public-priorities-private-businessguardian.co.uk/guardian.co.ukJo Confino talks to Georg Kell
Photograph: guardian.co.ukGuardian Staff2013-10-15T17:00:00ZErika Karp: Shakespeare and sustainable business – videohttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/erika-karp-shakespeare-sustainable-business
At the UN Global Compact Leadership Summit, Erika Karp parsed the wisdom of the Merchant of Venice and the Talmud for sustainable entrepreneurs. The founder and CEO of Cornerstone Capital told Jo Confino that the complex problems of building sustainable businesses require collaboration and keeping the big picture in mind <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/erika-karp-shakespeare-sustainable-business">Continue reading...</a>Guardian sustainable businessMon, 14 Oct 2013 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/erika-karp-shakespeare-sustainable-businessguardian.co.uk/guardian.co.ukJo Confino talks to Erika Karp
Photograph: guardian.co.ukGuardian Staff2013-10-14T17:00:00ZJohn Ruggie on UN human rights principles – videohttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/jo-confino-talks-to-john-ruggie-un-human-rights-video
John Ruggie, the Harvard professor who proposed the UN's guiding principles for human rights – also known as the Ruggie principles – talks with the Guardian's Jo Confino about the dignified treatment of employees and consumers, systemic disconnects spurring short-term thinking, the need for systemic intervention by business and optimism <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/jo-confino-talks-to-john-ruggie-un-human-rights-video">Continue reading...</a>UN Global Compact Leaders SummitGuardian sustainable businessFri, 11 Oct 2013 17:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/jo-confino-talks-to-john-ruggie-un-human-rights-videoguardian.co.uk/guardian.co.ukJo Confino talks to John Ruggie
Photograph: guardian.co.ukGuardian Staff2013-10-11T17:00:00ZMeg Jones: business skills empower women for politics – videohttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/meg-jones-business-skills-empower-women
At the UN Global Compact Leadership Summit, Meg Jones spoke about working with the developing world and the long-unmet goals of including more women in politics. The International Trade Centre's Women and Trade programme manager went on to say that by preparing women with business skills, more will become political leaders <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/meg-jones-business-skills-empower-women">Continue reading...</a>Guardian sustainable businessThu, 10 Oct 2013 19:32:59 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/meg-jones-business-skills-empower-womenguardian.co.uk/guardian.co.ukJo Confino talks to Meg Jones
Photograph: guardian.co.ukGuardian Staff2013-10-10T19:32:59ZPeter Bakker: a new language for sustainable business – videohttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/peter-bakker-new-language-sustainable-business
At the UN Global Compact Leadership Summit, Peter Bakker spoke about bettering sustainable business by widespread collaboration. The president of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and UN ambassador told Jo Confino that leaders need to translate sustainability goals into the language of risk management and new opportunities <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/peter-bakker-new-language-sustainable-business">Continue reading...</a>Guardian sustainable businessWed, 09 Oct 2013 16:54:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/peter-bakker-new-language-sustainable-businessguardian.co.uk/guardian.co.ukJo Confino talks to Peter Bakker
Photograph: guardian.co.ukGuardian Staff2013-10-09T16:54:00ZSiemens' Peter Solmssen on why responsible corporations are rewarded – videohttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/siemens-peter-solmssen-responsible-corporations-rewarded
Peter Solmssen, member of the managing board and general counsel of Siemens AG, tells Guardian Sustainable Business chair Jo Confino that sustainability is central to a company's interests. A corporation is a form of person, he says, and needs to act as a responsible, productive citizen <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/siemens-peter-solmssen-responsible-corporations-rewarded">Continue reading...</a>Guardian sustainable businessTue, 08 Oct 2013 21:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/siemens-peter-solmssen-responsible-corporations-rewardedguardian.co.uk/guardian.co.ukJo Confino talks to Peter Solmssen
Photograph: guardian.co.ukGuardian Staff2013-10-08T21:00:00ZTererai Trent: businesses should invest in education - videohttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/business-should-invest-in-education
At the UN Global Compact Leadership Summit, Tererai Trent made an impassioned plea for business investment in education. In this video, the founder of Zimbabwean educational nonprofit Tinogona tells Jo Confino that companies need to do more to help the 250 million children who can't read and write <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/business-should-invest-in-education">Continue reading...</a>Guardian sustainable businessMon, 07 Oct 2013 17:46:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/business-should-invest-in-educationguardian.co.uk/guardian.co.ukJo Confino talks to Tererai Trent
Photograph: guardian.co.ukGuardian Staff2013-10-07T17:46:00ZMars CSO: sustainability should be a pre-competitive issue - videohttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/sustainability-a-pre-competitive-issue
Barry Parkin, CSO at Mars Inc., tells <strong>Jo Confino</strong> that sustainability should be treated as a pre-competitive issue by businesses. He says that new business models must be built on different competitive principles and sites increased scale of impact as the principle opportunity for collaboration <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/sustainability-a-pre-competitive-issue">Continue reading...</a>Guardian sustainable businessCollaborationFri, 04 Oct 2013 15:38:28 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/sustainability-a-pre-competitive-issueguardian.co.uk/guardian.co.ukJo Confino talks to Barry Parkin
Photograph: guardian.co.ukJo Confino2013-10-04T15:38:28ZBSR's Aron Cramer on future proofing your business - videohttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/bsr-aron-cramer-future-proof-your-business-video
In an interview with Jo Confino, Aron Cramer, CEO of sustainability advisory firm BSR, advises CEOs to get to the future before the future destroys their business. He goes on to say that redefining corporate purpose and regulatory reform would go a long way to driving sustainability <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/bsr-aron-cramer-future-proof-your-business-video">Continue reading...</a>Guardian sustainable businessThu, 03 Oct 2013 17:04:45 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/bsr-aron-cramer-future-proof-your-business-videoguardian.co.uk/guardian.co.ukJo confino talks to Aron Cramer
Photograph: guardian.co.ukJo Confino2013-10-03T17:04:45ZUNI Global Union: it's time to talk about the common good - videohttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/uni-talk-about-common-good
Philip Jennings, general secretary of the UNI Global Union, tells Jo Confino that profit - not the common good - is still the key driver of business. He argues that it is time for companies to overcome short-termism and to take a stand to change the rules of the game <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/uni-talk-about-common-good">Continue reading...</a>Guardian sustainable businessWed, 02 Oct 2013 16:10:17 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/uni-talk-about-common-goodguardian.co.uk/guardian.co.ukJo confino talks to Philip Jennings
Photograph: guardian.co.ukGuardian Staff2013-10-02T16:10:17ZJo Confino talks to Peter Lacy about the scale and pace of change in sustainability - videohttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/jo-confino-talks-to-peter-lacy-from-accenture-asia-pacific
Peter Lacy, managing director of strategy and sustainability services, Asia-Pacific at Accenture talks to Jo Confino about the results of the world's largest CEO sustainability study. The study found that there are real concerns about the pace and scale of change when it comes to business and sustainability, with two thirds of CEOs stating that business is not doing enough <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/jo-confino-talks-to-peter-lacy-from-accenture-asia-pacific">Continue reading...</a>Guardian sustainable businessBehaviourGovernanceBusiness caseTue, 01 Oct 2013 15:30:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/video/jo-confino-talks-to-peter-lacy-from-accenture-asia-pacificguardian.co.uk/guardian.co.ukJo confino talks to Peter Lacy from Accenture Asia Pacific
Photograph: guardian.co.ukJo Confino2013-10-01T15:30:00ZHow technology has stopped evolution and is destroying the worldhttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/technology-stopped-evolution-destroying-world
Doug Tompkins, founder of The North Face, on battles with Steve Jobs and why we need to dismantle our techno-industrial society<p>It has become something of a mantra within the sustainability movement that innovations in technology can save the world. But rather than liberating us, Doug Tompkins, the cofounder of retail brands The North Face and Esprit, believes technology has enslaved us and is destroying the very health of the planet on which all species depend.</p><p>Tompkins, 70 has used his enormous wealth from selling both companies to preserve more land than any other individual in history, spending more than &pound;200m buying over two million acres of wilderness in Argentina and Chile.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/technology-stopped-evolution-destroying-world">Continue reading...</a>Guardian sustainable businessSustainabilityThu, 11 Jul 2013 11:39:10 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/technology-stopped-evolution-destroying-worldAaron Black/Getty ImagesDoug Tompkins, founder of North Face and Esprit, has been instrumental in creating two huge nature reserves in Patagonia. Photograph: Aaron Black/Getty ImagesAaron Black/Getty ImagesDoug Tompkins, founder of North Face and Esprit, has been instrumental in creating two huge nature reserves in Patagonia. Photograph: Aaron Black/Getty ImagesJo Confino2013-07-11T11:39:10ZTino Sehgal's Tate Modern exhibition metaphor for dematerialisationhttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/tino-sehgal-tate-modern-exhibition-metaphor-dematerialisation
Sehgal talks to Jo Confino about his passion for sustainability, why his commission is symbolically important, and the need to move beyond consumer fetishism to more meaningful lifestyles<p>The two greatest mistakes of modern capitalism have been to confuse materialism with happiness, and growth with the need to produce an ever increasing number of physical goods.</p><p>These are the core ideas behind the work of artist Tino Sehgal, who is <a href="http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/unilever-series-tino-sehgal-2012" title="">currently exhibiting</a> at the Tate Modern's turbine hall.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/tino-sehgal-tate-modern-exhibition-metaphor-dematerialisation">Continue reading...</a>Guardian sustainable businessBehaviourTino SehgalFri, 05 Oct 2012 15:55:18 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/tino-sehgal-tate-modern-exhibition-metaphor-dematerialisationJohnny Green/Johnny GreenTino Sehgal with exhibition participants outside the Tate Modern. Photograph: Johnny GreenJohnny Green/Johnny GreenTino Sehgal with exhibition participants outside the Tate Modern. Photograph: Johnny GreenJo Confino2012-10-05T15:55:18ZRio+20: Tim Jackson on how fear led world leaders to betray green economyhttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/rio-20-tim-jackson-leaders-green-economy
The author of Prosperity Without Growth says that despite a staggering lack of responsibility from politicians, there is still a route to a better economic system<p>Professor Tim Jackson is not in the mood to mince words. Not only did Rio+20 fail to offer new hope to humanity but the author of the influential book <a href="http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9781844078943" title=""><em>Prosperity Without Growth</em></a> believes the 190 heads of state and ministers who signed the final document have betrayed the vision of a green economy.</p><p>Rather than questioning the existing economic model, which is leading us to environmental and social disaster, Jackson believes the final text showed that politicians have let fear rather than courage gain the upper hand, which will result in us being driven even further into the arms of a bankrupt belief system.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/rio-20-tim-jackson-leaders-green-economy">Continue reading...</a>Business on the road to RioGuardian sustainable businessGovernanceRio+20 Earth summitBusinessMon, 25 Jun 2012 15:24:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/rio-20-tim-jackson-leaders-green-economyMark Garten/UN PhotoRio+20: "It's a staggering failure of responsibility," Tim Jackson says. Photograph: Mark Garten/UN PhotoMark Garten/UN PhotoSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon (centre) participates in the Third Round of informal negotiations on the Rio+20 draft outcome document, which comes ahead of the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20-22 June. Mr. Ban is flanked by the Co-Chairs of the Bureau for the UNCSD, Kim Sook (left), Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the UN, and John Ashe, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN. Photograph: Mark Garten/UN PhotoJo Confino in Rio de Janeiro2012-06-25T15:24:00ZRio+20: Jeffrey Sachs on how business destroyed democracy and virtuous lifehttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/rio-20-jeffrey-sachs-business-democracy
The world famous economist on corporate control, the search for happiness and why a multi-disciplinary approach is the only way to find solutions to sustainability challenges<p>Jeffrey Sachs, the economist and director of the <a href="http://www.earth.columbia.edu/sections/view/9" title="">Earth Institute at Columbia University</a>, speaks with a velvet tongue but packs a mighty punch.</p><p>Big business, he says, is not responsible only for destroying the American democratic system, but has also transformed citizens into consumer addicts.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/rio-20-jeffrey-sachs-business-democracy">Continue reading...</a>Business on the road to RioGuardian sustainable businessGovernanceRio+20 Earth summitBusinessFri, 22 Jun 2012 10:15:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/rio-20-jeffrey-sachs-business-democracyGraeme Robertson/Graeme RobertsonSpeaking at Rio+20, Jeffrey Sachs described how business has destroyed the US democratic system and created addiction to consumption. Photograph: Graeme RobertsonGraeme Robertson/Graeme RobertsonEconomist Jeffrey Sachs returned to the familiar theme of aid during his recent visit to London. Photograph: Graeme RobertsonJo Confino in Rio de Janiero2012-06-22T10:15:00ZRio+20: Unilever CEO on the need to battle on to save the worldhttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/rio-20-unilever-battle-save-world
With the political process paralysed, Unilever's Paul Polman urges progressive business to show courage and leadership<p>In the inter-dependent world in which we live, it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell the difference between the language of NGOs and the top tier of progressive business leaders.</p><p>Just listen to what Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, one of the world's biggest companies, had to say when I caught up with him after he took part in the launch of the <a href="http://www.naturalcapitaldeclaration.org/" title="">Natural Capital Declaration</a> at the Rio+20 convention centre: &quot;The very essence of capitalism is under threat as business is now seen as a personal wealth accumulator.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/rio-20-unilever-battle-save-world">Continue reading...</a>Business on the road to RioGuardian sustainable businessRio+20 Earth summitBusinessStrategyThu, 21 Jun 2012 14:30:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/rio-20-unilever-battle-save-worldPRAt Rio+20, Unilever CEO Paul Polman said that business must "put the greater good ahead of self-interest".PRPaul Polman.Jo Confino in Rio de Janiero2012-06-21T14:30:00ZPeace, love and fairtrade ice-creamhttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/ben-and-jerrys-jerry-greenfield-sustainability-business-values
Ben &amp; Jerry's co-founder, Jerry Greenfield, speaks to Jo Confino about the perils of short termism, following the status quo and the importance of community within big business<p>Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of <a href="http://www.benjerry.co.uk/" title="">Ben &amp; Jerry's</a>, is looking slightly dishevelled on a crashed-out Louis XIV sofa in a dilapidated north London warehouse.</p><p>It's the sort of setting that allows you to imagine how it might have been back in 1978 when the two childhood friends, who had individually failed in their chosen careers, cobbled together a few thousand dollars to start their ice-cream business.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/ben-and-jerrys-jerry-greenfield-sustainability-business-values">Continue reading...</a>LeadershipGuardian sustainable businessCollaborationStrategySmall BusinessClimate changeFri, 01 Jun 2012 15:59:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/ben-and-jerrys-jerry-greenfield-sustainability-business-valuesSarah Lee/GuardianJerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Photograph: Sarah Lee for the GuardianJames D. Morgan / Rex Features/James D. Morgan / Rex FeaturesJerry Greenfield with Ben & Jerry's co founder Ben Cohen. Photograph: James D. Morgan / Rex FeaturesSarah Lee/GuardianJerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Photograph: Sarah Lee for the GuardianJames D. Morgan / Rex Features/James D. Morgan / Rex FeaturesJerry Greenfield with Ben &amp; Jerry's co founder Ben Cohen.
Photograph: James D. Morgan / Rex FeaturesJo Confino for the Guardian Professional Network2012-06-01T15:59:00Z